Ballots for the 77th Sullivan Award are being sent this week to AAU officials, U.S. Olympic Committee members, college sports information directors and others. Fans, too, can join in the voting for the nation's top amateur athlete online. The total fan votes count one-third toward the final tally.

Ballots for the 77th Sullivan Award are being sent this week to AAU officials, U.S. Olympic Committee members, college sports information directors and others. Fans, too, can join in the voting for the nation's top amateur athlete online. The total fan votes count one-third toward the final tally.

The big question: Will mid-major conferences continue to grab multiple at-large bids to the NCAA men's basketball tournament at the expense of top programs in the so-called power leagues? "I think it is possible for four (from the MVC) to go, but it's too early to project it," Missouri Valley Commissioner Doug Elgin says.

The big question: Will mid-major conferences continue to grab multiple at-large bids to the NCAA men's basketball tournament at the expense of top programs in the so-called power leagues? "I think it is possible for four (from the MVC) to go, but it's too early to project it," Missouri Valley Commissioner Doug Elgin says.

CBS' clip of Ohio State basketball coach Thad Matta spewing out a wad of chewing gum before picking it up from the dirty court and popping it back into his mouth has taken on a life of its own. Matta's moment was the sports TV version of Seinfeld's George Costanza retrieving a half-eaten clair from his girlfriend's garbage can.

Brett Hull knows NBC touted him as hockey's version of TNT's Charles Barkley in basketball or its own Cris Collinsworth for football when it hired him: candid, outspoken, controversial. Be careful what you wish for. The sharpshooting Hull criticized his network's coverage Tuesday, saying he's not getting enough airtime with studio colleagues Bill Clement and Ray Ferraro.

As the go-to player on Arizona State's women's basketball team, Emily Westerberg has a breathless personality that emotionally charges her team. As "Crunchie" the nickname coach Charli Turner Thorne dropped on her Aubree Johnson has a take-your-breath away coolness that emotionally destroys opponents in crunchtime.

As the go-to player on Arizona State's women's basketball team, Emily Westerberg has a breathless personality that emotionally charges her team. As "Crunchie" the nickname coach Charli Turner Thorne dropped on her Aubree Johnson has a take-your-breath away coolness that emotionally destroys opponents in crunchtime.

John Calipari throws open a door and looks out on a University of Memphis parking lot with impish pride. "They didn't tow me," Calipari shouts as he spots his illegally parked Audi. "We must be winning." Memphis is indeed winning. The Tigers are 25-3 and riding a 17-game streak, the nation's longest in Division I men's basketball.